Dez Bryant gets his long-term deal

NFC East Update

The thoroughly documented Dez Bryant/Dallas Cowboys contract saga is over. Both parties agreed to a 5-year $70 million deal and avoid a potential hold-out by the Cowboys’ star receiver. According to Ian Rapoport, Bryant receives a $20 million signing bonus, $23 million guaranteed upon signing the deal and the balance of his $45 million guaranteed in March of 2016.

Just earlier this week Bryant had the following to say via Twitter if indeed a deal wasn’t in place by today’s deadline:

The fact of the matter is that Dallas didn’t have much leverage in contract talks despite their alleged concerns about Bryant’s ability to stay out of trouble if given a lucrative contract offer. But when Dallas allowed Demarco Murray to sign with the division rival Philadelphia Eagles and considering the lack of proven commodities on the wide receiver depth chart in Big D a Bryant holdout likely would have torpedoed Dallas’ conference championship aspirations.

But it’s a moot point now. Dez doesn’t get $16 million per – Calvin Johnson money, but $14 million a year makes him the 2nd highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. Dallas keeps their best offensive weapon and emotional leader in the fold.